COLUMBIA â" After an all-night, relentless assault on the basket by both teams, 20th-ranked Clemson attacked the hoop a little better and outlasted South Carolina, 98-87, Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 16,168 at Colonial Life Arena. "I thought it was a hard-fought competitive game between two state rivals," said Clemson coach Oliver Purnell. "One of the things I love about our team is how well they listen, but I don't think they got the message today when I told them how hard South Carolina was going to come out."

TAMPA, FLA. â" Many Iowans act like royalty. For instance, the three guys who resemble Paul Blart, Mall Cop. They were lounging around a Tampa hotel pool Tuesday while phoning home to Cedar Rapids to brag about the perfectly sunny weather.

TAMPA, Fla. â" Your freshman year in college is supposed to be about adjustments and acclimation. Getting used to your surroundings. Feeling your way through life's independence. Fighting to learn inside and outside classroom walls.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â" Early in the second quarter of Clemson's season opener against Alabama, Tigers offensive line coach Brad Scott turned to Bobby Hutchinson and told him to put his helmet back on. Up until that moment, Hutchinson, a fifth-year senior, thought his playing days were a thing of the past.